Temporal kinetics of bovine mammary IgG secretion into colostrum and transition milk

Neonatal calf survival and health is predominantly dependent on sufficient consumption of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the resulting transfer of passive immunity (TPI). In this study we investigate the potential for continued IgG secretion and temporal kinetics of mammary IgG output in sequential milkings performed at 0, 4, 16, 28, 40 and 52 hours post-calving in Holstein dairy cows. For colostrum (0 hour), we also scrutinize the relationships between IgG concentration, volume, refractometer readings (˚Bx values, Brix ®) and concentration of sugars (lactose and glucose). Mammary transcripts postpartum (0 hour) indicated that active IgG secretion continues beyond the first milking (colostrum; n=4-5). IgG measurements at the different timepoints indicated that colostrum represents only 25.1% of the total IgG produced across the six sequential milking timepoints, with a substantial 48.9% being secreted into transition milk over the next three timepoints (4-, 6- and 28-hour) combined. The differences on the basis of IgG concentrations across 0-, 4- and 16-hour milking timepoints were not statistically significant (p=0.1522; n=9). For colostrum, volume remained highly variable, even with induced let-down prior to milking (n=27). Nonetheless, colostrum IgG secretion was significantly co-regulated with volume (R 2=0.915; p<0.001; n=18), an association that was stronger than that measured for lactose (R 2=0.803; p<0.001; n=18) and glucose (R 2=0.467; p=0.002; n=17). Comparing colostrum ˚Bx values to absolute IgG concentrations showed no correlation (R 2=0.127; p=0.07; n=27); biochemical separation of colostrum components indicated that both proteins and non-protein solutes could affect ˚Bx values (p<0.0001 for both; n=5). This suggests that ˚Bx values do not reasonably indicate IgG concentration to serve as a measure of “colostrum quality.” Additionally, our finding that early transition milk (4-, 6- and 28-hour) can contribute substantially more IgG than colostrum forces a rethink of existing feeding paradigms and means to maximize TPI in calves. Collectively, our results reveal the remarkable value of early transition milk and caveats to colostrum assessments that could advance application in enhancing neonatal calf health.